Replacement Battery Charger - recommendation(s)

The Stanley site says the 40 amper is discontinued. Hard to tell what would be a good choice.

https://www.baccusglobal.com/

I think this one would do nicely. It does 30 amps at first and when the battery is full (by however it thinks it is) it automatically drops to Float. It is regular price at $149 (Can) in Can Tire, check for it on amazon.com for US price.

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/217982_95ac1e45cb874794874d00669b63d4b1.pdf

Here it is:
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DXAEC80-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B06XDJZC1M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=Dewalt+80+battery+charger&qid=1555179039&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

jodeb720 wrote:
OP Here,

My cousin is strictly a weekender camper. No long term/week at a time kind stuff.

His need is to have lights, water pump, recharge cell phone and a ceiling fan of some kind.

What he currently has is a battery tender with a 2 amp maximum output. If he makes the investment moving to a pair of GC's from Costco, then he'll want charging system that he can connect when he gets home from the weekend to recharge the batteries.

I thought I knew a thing or two about recharging, but as you've (collectively) pointed out, short of using a hydrometer, it's a **** shoot in terms of what is a fully charged battery.

personally, I've got my 1093 and I have two sets of gc's with a select-able cut off switch so I keep one bank feeding the house, and one bank can be charged, offline by the 1093.

The one thing I've not done is gone after the batteries with a hydrometer to check SOC.

Back to my cousin - so short of him spending a few hundred dollars for a megawatt or meanwell - the stanley will probably suffice.

My biggest concern is him overcharging the batteries and boiling them to death.

In a way, it's better to undercharge than to overcharge in this case.

Thanks for all the help!

josh

The Stanley 40 amp charger is basically the same as the 1093 (read my previous post). It is a smart charger that will shut off automatically and will not boil the batteries.

Josh,

Undercharging is much easier to do than over charging. Once the batteries sulfate there may be much shorter life.

Since your brother is a weekend camper, I'd install 200 watts of solar and mate it to the temperature compensated Grape controller from Home Depot.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-100-Watt-Polycrystalline-Solar-Panel-for-RV-s-Boats-and-12-Volt-Systems-GS-Star-100W/204211365

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-COMET-12-24-Volt-40-Amp-Solar-Charge-Controller-GS-PWM-COMET-40/305498558

OP Here,

My cousin is strictly a weekender camper. No long term/week at a time kind stuff.

His need is to have lights, water pump, recharge cell phone and a ceiling fan of some kind.

What he currently has is a battery tender with a 2 amp maximum output. If he makes the investment moving to a pair of GC's from Costco, then he'll want charging system that he can connect when he gets home from the weekend to recharge the batteries.

I thought I knew a thing or two about recharging, but as you've (collectively) pointed out, short of using a hydrometer, it's a **** shoot in terms of what is a fully charged battery.

personally, I've got my 1093 and I have two sets of gc's with a select-able cut off switch so I keep one bank feeding the house, and one bank can be charged, offline by the 1093.

The one thing I've not done is gone after the batteries with a hydrometer to check SOC.

Back to my cousin - so short of him spending a few hundred dollars for a megawatt or meanwell - the stanley will probably suffice.

My biggest concern is him overcharging the batteries and boiling them to death.

In a way, it's better to undercharge than to overcharge in this case.

Thanks for all the help!

josh

BFL13 wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Keep it simple. Harbor Freight 2/10/50 Battery charger. Item # 66783. On any one of the 3 settings, the charger will shut down when it reaches 14.4 volts and turn back on at 12.8 volts. On sale for $29.95 4/12-4/14.
Hook it up and walk away.

Richard

So the battery is at say 75% SOC when it reaches 14.4 volts, and now the charger quits until voltage drops back to 12.8 volts? Great! :(

Well the OP was talking about a maintainer and low budget, for when he gets HOME. Those batteries will eventually top off while sitting in the driveway. On the 10 amp setting, it will take may hours to achieve 14.4.
I have the same charger that I leave on my truck all winter, while gone to warmer climate.

Richard

MrWizard wrote:
Gjac
we all like the BD/vector 40amp charger

its just NOT being Mfg anymore, used ones IF you can find one for sale
command a 'as new' price

i have no experience with the Stanley

Stanley bought out B&D, in talking to one of their engineers they told me that the Stanley 40 amp charger was based on the B&D charger with better controls and charging algorithms.

Baccus Global, maker or B&D, dewalt, stanley * CAT battery chargers

https://www.baccusglobal.com/

Gjac
we all like the BD/vector 40amp charger

its just NOT being Mfg anymore, used ones IF you can find one for sale
command a 'as new' price

i have no experience with the Stanley

For GC2 batteries, are we better off using a separate plug in charger and just disconnecting the batteries from the built in house charger?

For what he wants to do with it I would get the Stanley 40 amp battery charger or the B&D 40 amp battery charger, I got the later for $50 at Big lots. For 2 6v GC batteries it works great and has an equalizing function and desulfating function. Like a previous poster said none of these smart chargers fully charge the batteries to 100%SOC, so when my smart charger says full I will use the old onboard Magnatec 950 converter charger to top of the 2 6 v GC batteries. There are better solutions but not for $50.